In a fiery response, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has publicly condemned Donald Trump for spreading misinformation about the status of the Panama Canal, rejecting the former U.S. president’s claims that the canal is in the process of being “taken back” by the United States.
Trump’s False Claims
During a recent address to Congress, Trump made a bold—yet baseless—assertion that the U.S. was working to “take back the canal” with the help of BlackRock, a powerful investment firm that he claimed was involved in acquiring ports at both ends of the strategic waterway.
However, Panama has made it clear that it has no intention of ceding control of its most important national asset.
Mulino’s Blistering Response
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), President Mulino flatly rejected Trump’s claims, making it clear that Panama’s sovereignty is not up for discussion.
“Once again, President Trump is lying. The Panama Canal is not in the process of being restored, and this is certainly not the task that was even discussed in our conversations with Secretary Rubio or anyone else.”
Mulino did not hold back, calling out Trump’s dishonesty and reaffirming Panama’s sovereignty:
“I reject, on behalf of Panama and all Panamanians, this new affront to the truth and to our dignity as a nation.”
He went on to stress that diplomatic cooperation between the U.S. and Panama must be based on truth and mutual respect—not Trump’s revisionist history and political posturing.
“Cooperation between our governments requires clear understandings on issues of mutual interest, as has been done. It has nothing to do with the ‘recovery of the Canal’ or with tarnishing our national sovereignty. The Canal is Panamanian and will continue to be Panamanian!”
Trump’s Neo-Imperialist Fantasies
Trump’s false claims about the Panama Canal echo his previous outlandish attempts at territorial expansion, such as his unsuccessful bid to purchase Greenland from Denmark—a move that was widely mocked on the international stage.
Trump’s remarks reflect an outdated, imperialistic mindset, one that completely disregards Panama’s sovereignty and the hard-fought control over the canal that it gained in 1999 after decades of U.S. administration.
The World Rejects Trump’s Delusions
The Panama Canal is one of the most critical trade routes in the world, facilitating global commerce between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Trump’s claims not only undermine Panama’s independence but also risk damaging U.S.-Panama relations.
As Mulino made perfectly clear, Panama will not entertain any discussion of U.S. control over the canal.
“Greenland belongs to Greenland, and the Panama Canal belongs to Panama.”
Trump’s delusions of global dominance may play well with his base, but on the international stage, they are making the U.S. a laughingstock.
